Krutor Hrotor

I’m not quite sure why Krutor have only produced one of their flagship model, the Hrotor, but it’s right there on their website: “This bike is not for sale and we’re not going to produce another piece. Therefore we ignore any questions regarding the price.” Maybe they used up the Czech Republic’s entire supply of aluminium and carbon fiber in its manufacture. Or maybe there is only enough room in the world for one Hrotor.

Regardless, it’s an impressive machine. There’s a 4-speed internal Shimano Nexus rear hub tucked into that swing arm, above the bottom bracket, connected to the rear wheel via a left hand drive train. The shock is capable of almost a foot of rear wheel travel, which is almost excessive by today’s World Cup standards. While internal transmissions aren’t new to downhill bikes, Krutor have certainly produced a very tidy layout. They specialize in machining most of their own components, their hubs and stems are nothing short of incredible. The cranks, hubs and stem are all created in-house at their factory in Brno, the Czech Republic’s second largest city.

Obviously the mechanical infrastructure is enough to support being dropped from the side of a small building, I’m just hoping Avid mechanical disc brakes are enough to haul this beast up? Because if you apply a musical analogy to this bike, it would be a death metal aria. Check out the pedals: no hex key sprigs here, grip is maintained by overlapping sawn-off wood screws. Ouch.

Have a look at Krutor’s website for more specs and detail shots. While you’re there, check out the Ouvinator model, a full carbon fiber downhill frame for 20” wheels…

PS: Massive thanks and a big cheerio to Deez Wheels, our latest advertiser. They’re helping to keep Cycle EXIF on (and off) the road. Based in Ohio, be sure to hit them up for a perfectly built set of hoops for your track, road, MTB or custom bike.

Not so many years ago just outside Prague in the former Czechoslovakia the greatest MX motorcycles in the world were produced under the CZ marquee. Perhaps Krutor will resurrect that great national tradition with this machine. Or maybe as you said there is not enough room in the world for more Hrotor.

Seems odd that mechanical discs are being used. I assumed it was a prototype. But they’ve been racing this model since 2005? That a side, this thing looks bloody awesome. Straight out of an Appleseed comic.

Mingh

Looks like the sort of bikes that popped up by the dozen around 2002-2003. Most of them were creatively crafted but massively overbuilt tractors that would handle like a dead ox. They generally had 24*3″ nokian tyres, Avalanche rear suspension, marzocchi super monsters, Renthal bars and your mom’s couch as a saddle.
At first sight, this one looks pretty much like a copy of a Nicolai Nucleon, which had the more expensive rohloff speedhub built into the main frame.